Tips to help you get the BEST possible photos on your wedding day
Transportation
If your wedding has multiple locations, see if your photographer(s) would be able to ride with you from one location to the other. This allows us to be with you to catch the little moments and not miss anything due to traffic / finding parking/waiting for the valet, etc.
Getting Ready
The photos of your morning preparations set the scene for your wedding story. Try to keep the room(s) tidy and clear from distractions. Consider having an adjoining space or secondary room for larger groups.
Bring a cute hanger to hang your dress on - it will photograph much better than the plastic one from the store. Gather all of the items that you want to be photographed in one area, such as your rings, dress, flowers, invitation, shoes, garter, etc. Also remove any wrappers, labels, or price tags that you do not want to be in the photos.
Control Your Guests
Some of your guests will see your wedding as their chance to snap photos for their social media. Having a ton of cameras sticking out of the aisle really ruins the ambiance of your wedding, not to mention that a guest may cause us to miss a crucial moment by trying to get their own photo.
We strongly recommend having an 'unplugged ceremony'. Invite your guests to put aside their cameras for the duration of the ceremony and just be with you without the distraction of technology. You'll appreciate their presence and your guests will be smiling at you instead of their devices. https://www.kai-photo.com/wedding-planning/unplugged-ceremonies
Processional / Recessional
Remind anyone walking down the aisle not to look at the floor during the processional & recessional. They can look straight ahead or at other guests but if they are looking down it will look like their eyes is closed in your photos. Have them practice this during the rehearsal too. Girls should be holding their bouquets at the upper part of the stem and their hands should be positioned below their belly button. Guys and girls should have a nice slow pace for the professional. Don’t rush!
Hold that KISS
If you do a 1-second peck, the chances of us catching it are slim. 3-5 seconds will allow us to capture several different images for you. Half body, full-body, wide-angle showing your ceremony ambiance.
Happy Feet
Bring a pair of comfortable sandals / flip flops to walk in during your photo session - especially if you are taking photos at the beach. You can swap back to your fancy shoes before we start taking photos.
Invest in Professional Prints & Albums
Of all the things that you have from your wedding, your photos are the only thing that will increase in value over time. I cannot over-stress the importance of investing in professional prints and albums. Professionally printed products are archival quality, designed to last 100+ years, and will stand the test of time for your children and grandchildren.
Embrace the Unexpected
The real beauty of a wedding day is allowing it to unfold naturally. The flower girl may not make it down the aisle, a bridesmaid might break a heel, the mother of the groom may cry herself into a puddle before portraits. These become part of the story, and allowing yourself to embrace (and expect) these imperfect moments will make for a much more enjoyable, stress-free day.